New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday asserted that Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar was “being implemented smoothly at the ground level” and “there was no change in instructions.”
On June 24, ECI issued instructions to carry out an SIR in Bihar, apparently to weed out ineligible names and ensure only eligible citizens are included in the electoral roll. Bihar Assembly elections are due in October-November this year.
The commission made it clear in a statement that while voters were required to “submit their documents anytime before July 25, 2025”, those who failed to do so would get an opportunity “during the claims and objections period”.
“Beware of statements being made by a few persons, who without reading the SIR order dated June 24, 2025, are attempting to confuse the public with their incorrect and misleading statements,” ECI urged the public.
There have been several social media posts, including one by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, about a poll body advertisement published in a newspaper claiming “now only forms are to be filled… there is no need to submit documents.”
Kharge alleged that the SIR was a “conspiracy by the BJP-RSS to snatch away the voting rights of Dalits and other deprived sections”. Kharge further said that the BJP, which ruled the Centre and shared power in Bihar, “is now getting trapped in its own masterplan.”
Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar echoed Kharge’s post on X. “The ad exposes the incompetence of the Election Commission and gives rise to doubts of unethical help extended to the ruling party,” Kumar said at a press conference.
Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, questioned why the current exercise was being carried out only in Bihar, unlike the previous revision in 2003 across the country.
INDIA bloc leaders have held parleys with Election Commission officials in Delhi and Patna to share their concerns.
The office of the state Chief Electoral Officer on Sunday tried to clear the air in the backdrop of the controversy arising out of the advertisement.
“SIR in Bihar is progressing as per Election Commission’s order dated June 24, 2025. As per that order, the draft electoral rolls that will be issued on August 1, 2025, will contain the names of the existing electors whose enumeration forms are received.”
“All measures are being taken to facilitate the existing electors to complete the documentation. These existing voters will have time to submit the documents even after first submitting their Enumeration Forms. All activities are exactly as per the Election Commission’s order dated 24.06.2025,” the CEO said in a post on X.
According to the poll panel, the exercise was necessitated by rapid urbanisation, frequent migration, young citizens becoming eligible to vote, non-reporting of deaths and inclusion of the names of foreign illegal immigrants.
The exercise was meant to ensure the integrity and preparation of error-free electoral rolls, ECI said.
